Maslow's 

Theory of Motivation - Hierarchy of

Needs
In 1943, Dr. Abraham Maslow 's article "A Theory of Human Motivation " appeared
in Psychological Review, which were further expanded upon in his book: Toward a
Psychology of Being  In this article, Abraham H. Maslow attempted to formulate a
needs-based framework of human motivation and based upon his clinical
experiences with people, rather than as did the prior psychology theories of his day
from authors such as Freud and B.F. Skinner, which were largely theoretical or
based upon animal behavior.  From this theory of motivation, modern leaders and
executive managers find means of motivation for the purposes of employee and
workforce management. Abraham Maslow's book Motivation and Personality(1954),
formally introduced the Hierarchy of Needs.

The basis of Maslow's motivation theory is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied
needs, and that certain lower factors need to be satisfied before higher needs can be
satisfied. According to Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, survival,
safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfishly. He
called these needs "deficiency needs." As long as we are motivated to satisfy these
cravings, we are moving towards growth, toward self-actualization. Satisfying needs is
healthy, while preventing gratification makes us sick or act evilly.

As a result, for adequate workplace motivation, it is important that leadership understands

the active needs active for individual employee motivation. In this manner, Maslow's model
indicates that fundamental, lower-order needs like safety and physiological
requirements have to be satisfied in order to pursue higher-level motivators along the lines
of self-fulfillment. As depicted in the following hierarchical diagram, sometimes called
'Maslow's Needs Pyramid' or 'Maslow's Needs Triangle', after a need is satisfied it stops
acting as a motivator and the next need one rank higher starts to motivate.

Self-Actualization

Esteem Needs

Social Needs

Safety Needs
 Physiological Needs

Self-Actualization
Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow's motivation theory. It is about the quest of
reaching one's full potential as a person. Unlike lower level needs, this need is never fully
satisfied; as one grows psychologically there are always new opportunities to continue to
grow.

Self-actualized people tend to have motivators such as:

 Truth
 Justice
 Wisdom
 Meaning

Self-actualized persons have frequent occurrences of peak experiences, which are energized
moments of profound happiness and harmony. According to Maslow, only a small
percentage of the population reaches the level of self-actualization.

Esteem Needs
After a person feels that they "belong", the urge to attain a degree of importance emerges.
Esteem needs can be categorized as external motivators and internal motivators.

Internally motivating esteem needs are those such as self-esteem, accomplishment, and

self respect.  External esteem needs are those such as reputation and recognition.

Some examples of esteem needs are:

 Recognition (external motivator) 

 Attention (external motivator) 
 Social Status (external motivator) 
 Accomplishment (internal motivator) 
 Self-respect (internal motivator)

Maslow later improved his model to add a layer in between self-actualization and esteem

needs: the need for aesthetics and knowledge.

Social Needs
Once a person has met the lower level physiological and safety needs, higher
level motivators awaken. The first level of higher level needs are social needs. Social needs
are those related to interaction with others and may include:
  Friendship
 Belonging to a group
 Giving and receiving love

Safety Needs
Once physiological needs are met, one's attention turns to safety and security in order to be
free from the threat of physical and emotional harm. Such needs might be fulfilled by:

 Living in a safe area

 Medical insurance
 Job security
 Financial reserves

According to the Maslow hierarchy, if a person feels threatened, needs further up the
pyramid will not receive attention until that need has been resolved.

Physiological Needs
Physiological needs are those required to sustain life, such as:

 Air
 Water
 Food
 Sleep

According to this theory, if these fundamental needs are not satisfied then one will surely be
motivated to satisfy them. Higher needs such as social needs and esteem are not
recognized until one satisfies the needs basic to existence.

Applying Maslow's Needs Hierarchy - Business

Management Implications
If Maslow's theory is true, there are some very important leadership implications to enhance
workplace motivation. There are staff motivation opportunities by motivating each employee
through their style of management, compensation plans, role definition, and company
activities.

 Physiological Motivation: Provide ample breaks for lunch and recuperation

and pay salaries that allow workers to buy life's essentials.
 Safety Needs: Provide a working environment which is safe, relative job
security, and freedom from threats.
 Social Needs: Generate a feeling of acceptance, belonging, and community
by reinforcing team dynamics.
  Esteem Motivators: Recognize achievements, assign important projects, and
provide status to make employees feel valued and appreciated.
 Self-Actualization: Offer challenging and meaningful work assignments which
enable innovation, creativity, and progress according to long-term goals.

Remember, everyone is not motivated by same needs.  At various points in their lives and
careers, various employees will be motivated by completely different needs. It is imperative
that you recognize each employee's needs currently being pursued. In order to motivate
their employees, leadership must be understand the current level of needs at which the
employee finds themselves, and leverage needs for workplace motivation.

Maslow's Theory - Limitations and Criticism

Though Maslow's hierarchy makes sense intuitively, little evidence supports its strict
hierarchy. Actually, recent research challenges the order that the needs are imposed by
Maslow's pyramid. As an example, in some cultures, social needs are placed more
fundamentally than any others. Further, Maslow's hierarchy fails to explain the "starving
artist" scenario, in which the aesthetic neglects their physical needs to pursuit of aesthetic
or spiritual goals. Additionally, little evidence suggests that people satisfy exclusively one
motivating need at a time, other than situations where needs conflict.

While scientific support fails to reinforce Maslow's hierarchy, his thery is very popular, being
the introductory motivation theory for many students and managers, worldwide. To handle
a number of the issues of present in the Needs Hierarchy, Clayton Alderfer devised the ERG
theory, a consistent needs-based model that aligns more accurately with scientific research.

MASLOW'S THEORY OF MOTIVATION AND HUMAN NEEDS

MASLOW'S THEORY OF MOTIVATION AND HUMAN NEEDS

LEVELS OF NEEDS MOTIVATION & BEHAVIOR

Level 5 = Self-Actualization Level 5 = Self-Actualization
FULFILLMENT OF GOALS & DREAMS CREATIVITY
Need for self-fulfillment. Desire to realize your Be a self-starter, have enthusiasm, be
full potential and become the best you are capable creative, be dedicated, enjoy challenges,
of becoming. love to accomplish results!
Level 4 = Self-Esteem Level 4 = Self-Esteem
SELF RESPECT & ACCEPTANCE BRAINPOWER
Need for reputation, prestige, and recognition from Display your talents and skills, have self-
others. Contains the desire to feel important, strong confidence, appreciate attention and
and significant. recognition from others.
Level 3 = Love & Relationships Level 3 = Love & Relationships
COMMUNICATION & RESPONSE VALIDATION
Need to be loved and to love. Includes the desire Join and be active in clubs and groups, be
for affection and belonging. able to talk to others, contribute to society,
marry and have a family.
Level 2 = Your Family & Work Level 2 = Your Family & Work
SOCIAL SAFETY & SECURITY SURVIVAL SKILLS
Need to be safe from physical and psychological Work, save for future, improve skills and
harm in the present and future, and trust in a talents, be responsible, and want an
predictable future. organized predictable world.
Level 1 = Your Body Level 1 = Your Body
PHYSICAL SAFETY & SECURITY SURVIVAL SKILLS
Need to stay alive! Biological and cultural Eat, sleep, and take care of your bodily
imperatives to live. Includes having enough needs, provide for clothing, shelter,
healthy food, air, and water to survive. comfort, be free from pain.